Petaluma man gets 4 years in prison for DUI

A 55-year-old Petaluma man, who pleaded no contest to a felony DUI in June, was sentenced to four years in state prison on Monday, according to the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office.

Charles Livingstone Cole received the maximum penalty under the law for what was his third felony DUI in 10 years and his ninth since 1980.

“We’re pleased this menace will be off of our roadways for the maximum time allowed under the law,” District Attorney Jill Ravitch said in a statement released by her office Tuesday. “The court’s 10-year license revocation, effective upon release from custody, will assist in keeping him off the roadways for the foreseeable future, and help to ensure the public is safe from this serial drunken driver.”

Cole made the no contest plea on June 11 in which he admitted to an enhancement for the prior convictions and for having a blood alcohol content more than twice the legal limit.

You can reach Staff Writer Elizabeth M. Cosin at 521-5276 or elizabeth.cosin@pressdemocrat.com.